Okay, here goes...

Running, or even training, was simple before I became a dad. Way back then, I would be able to go the track at Thurrock after work on a Tuesday and breeze through half a dozen 1000's and then be back down there on a Thursday evening to test my speed against the middle distance runners. Racing on a Saturday never needed much planning and as for long runs on a Sunday, being out all morning would often go unnoticed, especially if X Factor had recorded from the previous night.

How things change when a little one comes along. Not that I wasn't warned! And not that I would want it any other way. Naomi brings me far more pleasure than running ever did and only half the frustration! But things certainly aren't simple anymore. Far from it in fact. Running is much further down the list of important things to do in a day and, on some days, going for a short easy run isn't even possible. Throw into the mix an on-off Achilles tendon injury for the last 24 months and you won't be surprised to learn that neither training nor racing have featured prominently in life since I won the Bungay Black Dog marathon in 2010.

However, the Achilles has been getting stronger in recent weeks thanks to some specific work in the gym and I am beginning to find just a bit more time to squeeze a run in here and there, which brings me to the reason for starting a blog.

I am not a great writer and am far from a great runner. I may be the only person who reads this blog but that doesn't matter. My theory is that if I publish my training diary to the world each week then I will be determined to get out and run more, even if it means heading out at 5am on a Sunday morning. This blog may be my only hope of putting together one last season of solid Cross Country and track racing. Will I ever run under 16 minutes for 5000m? Can I score a top 30 finish in the Met League? Could I be capable of a sub 2:40 or even 2:35 marathon? And still be a good husband and father? Only time will tell but if I manage it, you will read all about it here...

Here is my training week commencing 29th October, (the highest weekly mileage I have managed in 2 years):

Monday AM: S&C*; PM: 30' easy

Tuesday AM: Rest;  PM: 50' stepping stones (easy / steady)

Wednesday AM: S&C*; PM: 53' easy

Thursday AM: Indoor cycle, 35'; PM: 2 x 12 minute hill reps (Kenyan Hills)

Friday AM: S&C**; PM: 25' easy

Saturday: 6 x 3' intervals, on grass, (approx 900m

Sunday: Just about made it out the house before the fireworks went off, 60' dead on, very easy running - calves were aching from yesterday!

S&C*:

3 x 5 Dead Lifts - 80kg; 3 x 5 Push Press behind neck - 34kg; 3 x 5 calf drops (machine) - 100kg; 3 x 5 Pull Up - Body Weight minus 9kg; 2 x 6 Barbell roll out

S&C**:

The 'benchers' must have been having a lie in on Friday morning as the squat rack was free...

4 x 4 Back Squat - 73kg (form went on the final rep); 3 x 5 Straight Leg Dead Lift - 84kg, then as for Monday's session except for Dead Lifts.